Albert “Turk” Graham Park, Crawford Roberts: 104 Vine Street
With lots of new housing nearby and more on the way, it’s uplifting to see this small playground on the edge of Crawford-Roberts get a refresh. Updated equipment, plenty of seating, a covered pavilion, a variety of swings, and a non-traditional but nevertheless pretty cool downtown view.
But why do some playgrounds get upgrades and others not? So much of that rests with the people living in the neighborhood coming together and asking for change. Filing complaints with 311, writing letters and emails to elected officials, generating neighborhood petitions, showing up at city council meetings, and reaching out to relevant nonprofit groups. It’s a lot of work that requires persistent effort, and the honest truth is that few people can sustain that effort for the years it often takes for a project to come to fruition. But it can happen because it does happen. It’s happening here.
Love Pittsburgh’s City Steps? Get a Copy of the NEW Book!
City Steps of Pittsburgh: A History & Guide explores the history of the steps and the neighborhoods in which they were built. It also includes 13 guided walks and 20+ locations worth visiting—all with detailed descriptions, directions, and resources for creating your own urban hiking adventure. All areas of Pittsburgh are represented: north, south, east, and west. The book is available through all online shops (including our publisher) and local and independent bookstores.